The number two ranked Lady Loboes have been to the regional
tournament six out of the last seven years, and that lone miss was due
to the Lady Wolves knocking them out of the playoffs last year. This
year, Monahans knew they had to get past Dalhart to keep their playoff
goals alive. After a thrilling five-game match the Lady Loboes will
make it to the tournament one more time. The Lady Wolves played very
strong, and after Monahans took the first game, Dalhart fought back
with two victories, putting the pressure back on Monahans. The Lady
Loboes never let up and the Lady Wolves had a couple of hitting errors
that kept Monahans in the game.

By Rodney White

The number two ranked Lady Loboes have been to the regional tournament six out of the last seven years, and that lone miss was due to the Lady Wolves knocking them out of the playoffs last year. This year, Monahans knew they had to get past Dalhart to keep their playoff goals alive. After a thrilling five-game match the Lady Loboes will make it to the tournament one more time. The Lady Wolves played very strong, and after Monahans took the first game, Dalhart fought back with two victories, putting the pressure back on Monahans. The Lady Loboes never let up and the Lady Wolves had a couple of hitting errors that kept Monahans in the game.

Dalhart could never pull away in game four as Monahans took the early lead 10-4. Dalhart closed the gap to 8-12 forcing a Monahans time out, but Dalhart never got the lead and lost, setting up a game five. The Dalhart squad just could not put together a run in the fifth game, and Monahans pulled out a big victory to end a very successful season by the Lady Wolves. Dalhart finished the year with a record of 31-12. They were the area champions for the third year in a row.

The Lady Wolves started the match strong with an ace by Katelyn Albers, and a kill by Marlee, the score was 4-1. Monahans fought back and tied the game at five. An ace by Molly Kruse stretched the lead out to 9-6, but the Lady Wolves had three hitting errors in a row and led 9-14. Abbie Steele had two sets in a row to Katelyn Albers for kills, and the gap was narrowed to 12-16. Dalhart used a time out after a Monahans ace at 12-18, but the Lady Wolves could not regain their momentum, and Monahans finished the game with an ace to win 25-16 over Dalhart.

Dalhart played strong in game two. Katelyn started us out with an ace at 2-0 then Sarah Cover provided a kill at 3-0. Riley Dunham had an over pass on the next play that resulted in a point to make the lead 4-1. Marlee, Steele, Albers and Wilt all had kills forcing Monahans to take a time out trailing 11-7. Both teams traded service errors after the time out. Abbie Steele had a pretty kill at the net to make the score 14-11, but Monahans rallied to take the lead 16-17, forcing a Dalhart time out. Kelly Simpson had a dig to Shelby Wilt who killed the ball for a point and a 20-22 score. Shelby set the ball to Albers for a kill at 21-22. Monahans had a couple of big plays, and Dalhart used a time out, trailing 23-24. Katelyn Albers, who played her best game of the year, had a great dig so that Marlee Reynolds was able to kill the ball and tie the game at 24. Abbie Steele provided a kill and then a hitting error by Monahans sealed the victory in game two, 26-24.

The Lady Wolves took the lead early again in game three. Katelyn and Marlee had kills for a 2-0 start. Sarah Cover had a block at 3-0. Marlee had a block at 5-2. Mallory provided a big block at the net at 6-3, then Abbie Steele had a block at 7-4 as Monahans tried to find a way around the Dalhart blocking game. Mallory had a kill at 8-4, then she placed the ball in a hole in the middle of the defense to make the score 9-6. Cover and Albers had kills to make the score 11-6. Mallory served an ace to make the score 12-6. Shelby had a power kill right on the line at 13-9, then she set the ball to Marlee for a kill at 15-13. Albers and Cover had kills to make the lead 20-19, but Monahans fought back and took the lead for the first time, forcing a Dalhart time out at 20-22. Shelby set the ball to Marlee for a kill at 21-22. Mallory had a block to tie the game at 22, forcing a Monahans time out. Dalhart was called in the net on the next point, giving Monahans the lead, but Dalhart rallied back and won 25-23 when Abbie set the ball to Marlee for a kill that sailed straight across the court to the side line.

You knew Dalhart had let up a little when they started game four with a service error. They could never get on a roll, and used a time out trailing 2-7. Albers had three kills. The third was just an amazing power hit straight down the side line for a point at 7-12. Wilt threw over some trash to make the score 9-14. Marlee Reynolds had two big kills in a row to make the score 12-16. Katelyn provided three kills with sets from Steele and Wilt to make the score 19-24, but Monahans pulled out a victory to tie the match at 2 -2 with the final score of game four 19-25, Monahans.

Game five is a short tie breaker that only goes to 15. Monahans took the lead and never relinquished the lead. Marlee had a kill at 1-2, then a block at 2-4. Dalhart used a time out to regroup, trailing 2-6. Marlee charged the ball from the back row for a block at 3-6. Mallory provided a kill at 4-8. Mallory then served an ace at 5-8 giving Dalhart hope. Katelyn got a kill after a set by Shelby at 6-9 then Monahans was called for interference at 7-11. Katelyn provided a kill from the back row at 9-11. Shelby set the ball to Marlee for a point at 10-12. Shelby scored with a little trash put back for an 11-13 score, but the match ended for Dalhart with a hitting error on the final point. Dalhart lost 11-15, allowing Monahans to advance to the regional tournament Friday.

It is a shame that these two teams met this early in the playoffs, as they should have been playing for the regional championship, but, unfortunately, that is just the way the brackets fell. Monahans should have clear sailing in the tournament.

The Lady Wolves still had a very successful season. They were ranked as the number four team in the state, and should be well represented on the all district team. Coach Satterfield and her staff, Audrey Hurley and Leigh Ann Lay, had the girls well prepared and helped contribute to a great season.